Valve and pressure regulator biasing assemblies

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to self-contained biasing assemblies for use with fluid flow devices or assemblies, such as valve and pressure regulator assemblies. A self-contained biasing assembly of a fluid flow assembly can be readily changed without requiring substantial disassembly of the fluid flow assembly. The biasing force applied to components within the fluid flow assembly can be changed by changing the biasing assembly.

1 . A biasing assembly for use as a component of a fluid flow assembly, where the fluid flow assembly includes a fluid control member that is movable from a first position to a second position, the biasing assembly comprising: 
 a. a housing; and    b. a biasing member located within the housing;    wherein the biasing assembly is assembled with the fluid flow assembly such that the biasing member biases the fluid control member towards the first position; and    wherein the biasing assembly can be removed from the fluid flow assembly as a self-contained unit and replaced such that a biasing force applied to the fluid control member is changed.    
   
   
       2 . The biasing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring.  
   
   
       3 . The biasing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the conical spring is dimensioned and configured in a manner to provide an approximately constant spring force across the working displacement of the spring.  
   
   
       4 . The biasing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide member located at least partially within the housing and operably coupled with the biasing member on a first end and operably coupled with the fluid control member on a second end.  
   
   
       5 . The biasing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the biasing force is changed, the biasing member is replaced with a second biasing member, which applies a different biasing force.  
   
   
       6 . The biasing member of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture in the housing to accommodate the flow of gas in and out of the housing.  
   
   
       7 . A biasing assembly for use as a component of a fluid flow assembly, where the fluid flow assembly includes a fluid control member that is movable from a first position to a second position, the biasing assembly comprising: 
 a. a housing;    b. a base member coupled to the housing; and    c. a biasing member located within the housing and the base member;    wherein the biasing assembly is assembled with the fluid flow assembly such that the biasing member biases the fluid control member towards the first position; and    wherein the biasing assembly can be removed from the fluid flow assembly as a self-contained unit and replaced such that a biasing force applied to the fluid control member is changed.    
   
   
       8 . The biasing assembly of  claim 7  wherein the base member includes at least one cutout to accommodate a fastener.  
   
   
       9 . The biasing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring, further wherein the conical spring is dimensioned and configured in a manner to provide an approximately constant spring force across the working displacement of the spring.  
   
   
       10 . A fluid flow assembly comprising: 
 a. an actuator assembly;    b. a valve assembly comprising: 
 i. a valve body;  
 ii. a first port;  
 iii. a second port; and  
 iv. a sealing member assembled in the valve body wherein the actuator assembly is assembled with the valve assembly to move the sealing member from a first position towards a second position;  
   c. a self-contained biasing assembly comprising: 
 i. a housing; and  
 ii. a biasing member located within the housing;  
 wherein the self-contained biasing assembly is assembled with the valve assembly such that the biasing member biases the sealing member towards the first position.  
   
   
   
       11 . The fluid flow assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid flow assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the conical spring is dimensioned and configured in a manner to provide an approximately constant spring force across the working displacement of the spring.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid flow assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide member in communication with the biasing member on a first end and in communication with the sealing member on a second end.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid flow assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the self-contained biasing assembly is replaced with a second self-contained biasing assembly such that a biasing force biasing the sealing member is changed.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid flow assembly in  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is replaced with a second biasing member such that a biasing force biasing the sealing member is changed.  
   
   
       16 . A fluid flow assembly comprising: 
 a. an actuator assembly;    b. a pressure regulator assembly comprising: 
 i. a body;  
 ii. a first port;  
 iii. a second port; and  
 iv. a fluid control member assembled in the body wherein the actuator assembly is assembled with the pressure regulator assembly to move the fluid control member from a first position towards a second position;  
   c. a self-contained biasing assembly comprising: 
 i. a housing; and  
 ii. a biasing member located within the housing;  
 wherein the self-contained biasing assembly is assembled with the pressure regulator assembly such that the biasing member biases the fluid control member towards the first position.  
   
   
   
       17 . The fluid flow assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a conical spring.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid flow assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the conical spring is dimensioned and configured in a manner to provide an approximately constant spring force across the working displacement of the spring.  
   
   
       19 . A fluid flow assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a guide member in communication with the biasing member on a first end and in communication with the sealing member on a second end.  
   
   
       20 . A fluid flow assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the self-contained biasing assembly is replaced with a second self-contained biasing assembly such that a biasing force biasing the sealing member is changed.  
   
   
       21 . A fluid flow assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is replaced with a second biasing member such that a biasing force biasing the sealing member is changed.  
   
   
       22 . A method of replacing a biasing member of a fluid flow device comprising: 
 a. assembling a first self-contained biasing assembly, with a first biasing force into a fluid control device;    b. disassembling the first self-contained biasing assembly from the fluid flow device; and    c. assembling a second self-contained biasing assembly, with a second biasing force, to the fluid flow device.    
   
   
       23 . A method for changing biasing force applied to a fluid control member of a fluid flow assembly, comprising: 
 a. removing a self-contained biasing assembly from the fluid flow assembly, wherein the self-contained biasing assembly includes a first biasing member that applies a first biasing force to the fluid control member; and    b. assembling a self-contained biasing assembly with the fluid flow assembly that includes a second biasing member that applies a second biasing force to the fluid control member to change the biasing force applied to the fluid control member.    
   
   
       24 . A method for changing biasing force applied to a fluid control member of a fluid flow assembly, comprising: 
 a. remove a base member from a self-contained biasing assembly, wherein the self-contained biasing assembly includes a first biasing member that applies a first biasing force to the fluid control member;    b. remove the first biasing member from the biasing assembly;    c. place a second biasing member with a second biasing force in the biasing assembly; and    d. replace the base member on the self-contained biasing assembly.